News

Healthy living through diet and exercise has long been an educational focus of the Millennial Generation. For this reason, it came as no surprise to 15 members of the LOCAVORE Club that a dram of kale had been slipped into their banana-berry-coconut smoothies at a club meeting on February 26. Two representatives from the Austin-based Whole Foods mixed healthy smoothies and cooked a batch of kale and Swiss Chard stir fry, after the organic gardeners heard the merits of locally grown foods and reaped the first harvest from the club’s garden. When asked to discern the “secret” ingredient in the clandestinely mixed smoothies, the hand of Susi Arguello was the first of nearly 15 that shot into the air almost immediately. “Kale,” she answered correctly. “A smoothie with kale is a good way to put vegetables into your breakfast,” the Marketing Team Leader from the hipster chic Whole Foods said.

Every Sunday Mass has three scriptural readings during the Liturgy of the Word which relate to each other. This Sunday’s readings are from Genesis, Paul, and Mark. In Genesis 22: 1-2, 9 – 18, Abraham, perhaps 110 years old, is told by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac. In the end God stays the execution, but in his intention to positively respond to the Lord’s directive, Abraham was promised a great blessing, namely he would become the father of a great nation, and anybody who would seek to interfere would be cursed by God. The reading echoes with hope and promise.

Congratulations to our Latin students for big wins! Matthias Mahoney and Martina Rodriguez won second place in the Novice Level of the Area F Certamen in Latin, History, and Mythology at the Texas State Junior Classical League (TSJCL) competition on February 20-21. Kathleen Shea took second place in Advanced Prose, while James Suffoletta won second place in Advanced Latin Poetry and Latin Derivatives. TSJCL is a branch of the National Junior Classical League, an organization dedicated to the study of Latin and Greek classics. Formed in 1936, the National Junior Classical League is the largest classical organization in the world, encompassing over 45,000 middle and high school students. Texas is divided up into five areas because of its size, and each area hosts its own area competition prior to the annual state competition. Congratulations to all!

Three St. Michael’s seniors - Leslie Solcher, a National Merit Finalist; Hailee Browne, a National Merit Commended Scholar; and Roberto Arguello, a Commended and National Hispanic Scholar - were honored by the Diocese of Austin on February 19. Joined by their families, as well as school counselors and principals from local Catholic high schools, the Commended Scholars gathered at the Austin Pastoral Center to receive tribute. Ned Vanders, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Bishop Joe Vasquez presided over the joyous festivities. Congratulations to all!

In an all-around remarkable day of astonishing achievement as a team and as individuals, St. Michael’s swimmers touched out competitors to set three new state records and knock off as many as 10 seconds from personal best times in San Antonio on Friday, February 13. Competing for the first time ever in the 2015 TAPPS Division II State Championships, the Men’s Swim Team won the overall competition as a team and set new state records in the 200 meter Medley Relay, the 100 meter Backstroke, and the 400 meter Freestyle Relay. In the 200 Medley, the team of Trey Kilbride, Ted Beiter, Hunter Dersch, and Michael Martinez dove into a dazzling pace from the start and continued to pull away from the rest of the field to win by four seconds with a time of 1:42.14. In the 100 Backstroke, Trey Kilbride dominated the pool with a :51.41 win, while in the 400 Freestyle Relay, the same team of Michael Martinez, Hunter Dersch, Ted Beiter, and Trey Kilbride hit every stroke and exchange like professionals, taking first place with a time of 3:22.13. “Of the many teams I have coached over the years, this one stands out for the commitment and determination they showed from the beginning of the season to the end,” said Coach Hans Dersch.

This is the year of “happy”— seen not only in the mood awakened nationally by Pharrell Williams’ ubiquitous hit song but in the wishes of art students at St. Michael’s for the children of Ghana. Art students in all grades are currently participating in The Memory Project, an initiative founded in 2004 by which U.S. students create portraits of children in other parts of the globe that have been neglected, orphaned, or disadvantaged. The Visual Art students of instructor Kami Land are finishing up portraits of children from an orphanage in Ghana. The portraits are intended as keepsakes that capture moments of childhood for those who have few or no possessions. When asked what they would wish for these children, a chorus of unprompted students answered in unison, “Happiness!” Junior Cecilia Lu ’16 added, “To be happy every day.” Taylor Boeckman ’15 described the happiness of former recipients of portraits created earlier by art students at St. Michael’s.

For the past four years, the St. Michael’s community has been cheering on Jameson Houston to new records on the gridiron—not simply to score touchdowns and win the game at hand but as a symbol of all that is admirable in the student-athlete. Voted overwhelmingly as this year’s Homecoming King, Jameson is one of the most liked and respected students on campus. He is known for his hard work and sportsmanship on the athletic field and his passion for doing well in the classroom. For these reasons, and for the pure joy of watching a student-athlete succeed, the St. Michael’s community gave its biggest collective cheer when Jameson signed with Baylor University on February 4 to play Division I football next year. SMCA Athletic Director Brian Moreland commented, "Since coming to St. Michael's in 2011, Jameson Houston has become an integral part of the community. His hard work in the classroom and on the field has been an inspiration to all of the St. Michael's community, and we are excited to celebrate his accomplishment and his perseverance. His success reflects the teamwork and collaboration that are a critical part of the St. Michael's experience."

The Diocese of Austin has selected St. Michael’s Board of Trustees member Leslie Blanke as a recipient of the prestigious Catholic Education Service Award that recognizes exemplary service to Catholic education. The award is given to practicing Catholic parishioners in Austin who have not only been actively involved in Catholic school education for at least five years but demonstrated spiritual growth and moral leadership, inspired others by their commitment, and initiated new ideas, programs, events, or other endeavors at their schools. The award was presented to Dr. Blanke and 20 others at the seventh annual “Celebrating Catholic Schools” dinner and awards ceremony on January 24. This annual event serves as the official start to National Catholic Schools Week and celebrates Catholic education in the Diocese of Austin. “Our family has been so well-served by Catholic schools, kindergarten through college. In return, I am committed to furthering the mission of Catholic education in our community,” Dr. Blanke said.

Every once in a great while, the stars align, the fates allow, and the spirits converge to form a type of harmony in an individual life that can only be described as grace. After serious injury and a life-threatening complication that led to an awakening of concern for others, student-athlete Kahle Elliott ’16 has brushed aside her initial devastation and is piecing together a life for herself that is filled with compassion and purpose. She has verbally committed to an extraordinary offer: not only to play Division 1 volleyball on a full scholarship but to attend a Catholic institution—the Jesuit-run Seattle University—that will allow her to continue a spiritual journey begun at St. Michael’s. Her choice of Seattle also represents a homecoming of sorts for Kahle in that the family of her mother has been settled in Washington State for four generations.

At St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, we recognize that parents are the primary teachers of their children. For more than 30 years, SMCA has been committed to serving families who want an exceptional education delivered in a small school environment: a full complement of academic courses, including as many as 20 Advanced Placement classes, established arts and athletics departments, a diverse and talented student body, and an outstanding faculty devoted to raising each St. Michael’s student up to his or her fullest potential morally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Our community is inspired for life.